Device for preventing th spreading of rails.



. P. MACKEY. DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THE SPBEADING 0F RAILS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28 1914.

1,173,595. Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

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Suva/whys abtcymua THE COLUMBIA PMNOGRAPH 50., WASHINGTON. D. c.

PAUL MACKEY, OF MINOR, KANSAS.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING'THE SPREADING OF RAILS.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Application filed May 28, 1914. Serial No. 841,599.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PAUL MAoKnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minor, in the county of Rawlins and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Preventing the Spreading of Rails, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for supporting and preventing the spreading of rails.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved means for receiving a pair of rails, the receiving means having means associated therewith for supporting the same.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved fastening means associated with the receiving means for preventing movementof the rails.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a receiving means for the rails, the latter comprising a body portion and receiving heads, the latter being provided with novel arrangement for bracing' the rails and having means formed therein for facilitating the securement of the rails by the fastening means.

A still further object of my invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described that is simple in construction, efficient in operation and one that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the .accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan view of my invention applied to a portion of track; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view partly in section of the same, showing the rails in section; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; .and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the same showing especially the construction of one of the heads.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I provide an elongated body portion 1, the respective ends of which are diverged and enlarged to provide upstanding rail receiving and bracmg heads 2, the latter having transverse recesses 3 provided on their upper edges for receiving one side of the heads of the rails st, the upper surfaces of which are arranged in alinement with the upper surfaces of the heads and which heads are further provided on the lower portions of their inner faces with inwardly extending transverse and tapering grooves-5, the latter having the bottoms thereof arranged in alinement with the body portion and receive one of the sides of the base flanges of the rails 4, the webs of which bear against the inner faces of the heads. By this arrangement it can be easilv seen that vertical movement of the railsis prevented and it further provides for the bracing of the rails.

For the purpose of preventing the lateral movement of the rails, I have cut the outer faces of the heads 2 diagonally as at 6 and have further provided the same with inwardly extending tapering recesses 7, the latter having longitudinally extending openings 8 arranged through the rear walls thereof, through which openings are passed bolts 9, the latter first being engaged in the alining openings in the webs of the rails and the outer screw-threaded ends of which are disposed within the tapering recesses 7. Washers 10 are disposed about the threaded ends, the latter being finally engaged by nuts 11 for firmly securing thesame in place and assuring the securement of the rails and causing the heads and flanges of the rails to bind against transverse recesses and grooves in the heads.

For the purpose of supporting the body portion 1 and at the same time forming auxiliary supporting means for the rails, I have disposed beneath the heads 2 oblong blocks 12 formed preferably of concrete. Although the same are not shown positioned directly beneath the rails, it is obvious that the same could be placed at this point if desired.

Although I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I desire it to be understood that I am not limited to the exact details and arrangements herein shown, however, great stress is laid upon the rail receiving heads with the fastening means associated therewith for preventing lateral and vertical movement of the rails. Again it can be readily seen that as the device is cast in but a single piece of metal,

the same can be cheaply manufactured and when manufactured can be placed on the market and sold at a minimum cost.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred em- 1 bodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in detail of construction,

proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claim and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

VVhatis claimed is V In a device for preventing the spreading of rails including in combination with a pair of rails, an elongated integrally formed body disposed transversely of the rails and arranged to support the rails, diverging rail receiving heads formed by enlarging the respective ends of the body, the inner faces of theheads being provided with transverse recesses adjacent the upper ends thereof each adapted for receiving a portion of the head of one of the rails and further pro- Copies of this patent may be obtained for vided adjacent the lower ends thereof with transverse grooves for receiving a portion vertical and lateral movement of the rails,

and the walls of the recesses constituting guards for the nuts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL MAGKEY.

' Witnesses: v o

THOMAS MURRAY, J. A. ANDERSON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

mg nuts removably mounted on said bolts 

